Sole and heel former



Aug. 2, 1946.

W. H. DOHERTY SOLE AND HEEL FORMER Filed Ja n. 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1A I INVENTOR. Milli/hm 1-1. 1707127W v nwz L 7: .77

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ATTORNEYS I w. H. DOHERTY 2,406,005

SOLE AND HEEL FORMER I I Filed Jan. 25, 1945 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Ti ZI,

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLE ANDHEELFORMER William H. Doherty, Elmhurst, N. Y. Application January 23,1945, Serial No. 574,072

This invention relates to a device to sole and heel footwear, includingworn footwear, and it relates to the rehabilitation and repair thereof.

Its principal object is to provide improved means for moulding a newsole and new heel of rubber or plastic material on and afiixing the sameto an article of footwear whether that ar ticle be new-in which case themoulding process would take place during the course of the originalmanufacture of the article of footwearor whether that article be Worn,in which case the process would be one of rehabilitating or repairmg.

Another object is to provide an improved sole and heel moulding meanssusceptible of proper adjustment into marginal conformity with anarticle of footwear of the character described, adapted to shape andmould the shank thereof as well as the sole and heel member thereof.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the characterdescribed which may be used in conjunction with conventional shoeholding devices commonly employed by shoe repair men in small shoerepair stores.

A still further object is the provision of a device of the characterdescribed which consist of few, simple, inexpensive parts and which,when assembled, is light in weight and convenient to handle and use.

'Another object still is the provision of a device of the characterdescribed which is designed for cooperation with vulcanizing equipmentof conventional types.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which- Fig. 1 i a plan view of the device as a whole, saiddevice being shown applied to a conventional article of footwear;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of said device on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of said device on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side View of the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the moulding band of said device, and;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a unitary sole, shank and heel memberformed by said device.

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the moulding member of thedevice comprises a unitary strip or band In of relatively flexible,relatively resilient material, such as spring metal. Band I0 is shownshaped to the marginal lines of conventional heel, shank and solemembers 6 Claims. (CI. 18-34) of a conventional article of footwear. Itis clear from the drawingsthat band I 0 i of substantially uniformthickness throughout but its width varies from a relatively ,wide heelportion which tapers gently at the shank portion to a relatively narrowsole portion. Band II] is provided at predetermined intervals with smallholes H whose function will hereafter appear.

It will be noted that there is overlapping of the end portions of saidband at the shank and that one end thereof curls outwardly at that pointto form approximately two-thirds of a circle. The very tip end l2 ofsaid circular portion I3 i bent over at right angles thereto.

Referring now to'Fig. 1, it becomes apparent that a ratchet mechanism Mis disposed in the circular space formed by said circular portion i3 andthatsaid ratchetmechanism engages tip i2 thereof. Ratchet mechanism l4comprises a r0- tatable wheel IE to which is aflixed a ratchet wheel l6,which ratchet wheel is engaged by a fixed pawl IT. A slot or notch inwheel accommodates the bent tip l2 of band I0. A square hole IS in saidwheel I5 and ratchet wheel 16 accommodates a crank or key member whichis not shown. It is clear that rotation of wheel i5 and ratchet wheel Itin a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 causes a drawingtogether of band l0 and a consequent reduction of the space encompassedand defined by said band III. This will become clear as thespecification proceeds.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that whenthe band I 0 is placedin operative position upon conventional article of footwear 20, nail ortacks 2! inserted through holes H in said band afiix the band to thearticle of footwear and more particularly to the welt 22 and heel 23portion thereof. Fig. 5 will show that a substantially L-shaped member25 having a wedge shaped foot is mounted on each said nail or tack 2|tobrace and erectly support band I0 during the moulding operation. Thewedge shaped foot is wedged by means of said nails 24 into the spacebetween welt 22 and upper 25 adjacent the point where said welt, saidupper and the inner sole 26 are respectively affixed to each other. Atthe inner end of. the heel section is a transverse band 2?, whichextends at both ends to band 10. Between said transverse band and thesole portion proper is a shank core 39 which occupies the spacecorresponding to the space formed beneath the shank of a conventionalshoewhen that shoe is placed upon a flat surface; The hank corecomprises a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members 3| and 32respectively which are mounted between a pair of spaced upper shankplates 33 and 33:11, respectively, and a lower shank plate 34. Upperplates 33 and 33a have a pair of side walls 35 and 36, respectively,with inwardly bent end portions 31 and 38, respectively, whichcorrespond to the wedge shaped foot portions of bracing members 24 andperform the same function therewith. Lower shank P1317334 is providedwith a rear Wall 39 which has a forwardly bent upper end portion 40. Theforward end 4| of lower shank plate 34 is bent backward facing bentportion 40. It thus appears that the shank members 3| and 32 are held inplace by upper and lower plates 33 and 33a, and 34, respectively, andtheir walls 35 and 36, and 39, respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that a transverse screw member45 extends through apertures 46 and 4! inside walls 35 and 36,respectively, apertures 48 and 49 in the band member 10 and loosethreaded apertures 56 and respectivelyin cores 3| and 32. It will benoted too that screw member 45 is rotatably fixed at its center portionin a bearing 52 which is mounted on lower plate 34. Said bearing permitsof rotation of screw 45 on its own axis but prevents axial displacementof said screw relative to said bearing. .It will be noted also thatscrew 45 is provided on one side of bearing 52 with right screw threadsand on the other side with left screw threads. Core members 3| and32,.respectively, are provided with corresponding screw threads so thatwhen screw 45 is caused to rotate on its axis, core portions 3| and 32'will move in opposite directions either toward or away from oneanother.

Nuts 60 and 6|, respectively, are mounted on the opposite ends of screw45 immediately adjacent side walls 35 and 36, respectively. Nut 6| isprovided with a square key receiving aperture 62. Screw 45 has affixedto the end opposite the end on which nut 6| is mounted aknurled knob 63.

Nuts 6!! and 6|, respectively, are used to tighten the contact betweenwalls 35 and 36 on the one hand and band It! on the other and band illon the one hand and core members 3| and 32 on the other.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the foot portions 31 and38, respectively, of walls 35 and '36 are provided with serrated edgeswhich are intended when the band is drawn together as herein described,to prevent creeping. It will also be noted in 'Fig. 1 that upper plate33 is provided with a slotted ear 65 which accommodates see Fig. 2-2.screw member 66 having eccentric wedge shaped .head 61 which performsthe same function as the feet of braces 24 and the inwardly turned wedgemembers 31 and 38 of walls 35 and 36, respectively. This slotarrangement permits of lateral movement of plate 33. Plate 3311 also hasan ear 68 which is substantially as large as the cross-sectionaldimensions of the ratchet mechanism I4. Fig. 2 will show that theratchet mechanism is rotatably carried by said ear 68. The pawl I! ofsaid ratchet mechanism which has hereinabove been described as a fixedlymounted pawl, is afiixed in the usual manner, as by pin 69 to said car68.

It is not difiicult to understand .how the device above described may beused. It is mounted on the article of footwear by means of nails 2| asabove described. Screw 45 and .nuts 60 and 6| are manipulated to adjustthe positions of core members 3| and 32 with respect to each other andthe degree of pressure contact between walls 35 and 36 and band 16 andsaid core members 3| and 32. Ratchet mechanism I4 is now operated in theusual way thereby drawing the curled end of band I!) around it andurging said band into marginal conformity with the sole and heel membersof said article of footwear. The device is now ready for use. A plasticmaterial or rubber is poured into the mould and the operation continuesfromthis oirrt on in the conventional manner. After the plastic materialis set, the device is removed and the end product may be seen in Fig. '7affixed, however, to the shoe. It is clear from Fig. 7 that what hasbeen produced isa unitary member having a heel portion '10, a shankportion H integral therewith, and a sole portion 72 integral with saidshank portion. The sole and heel portions of the unitary member shown inFig. 7 are provided with. depressed portions (or raised portions) l3which are formed therein in the usual manner by means of a suitablemould or otherwise.

' The device above described .is but a preferred embodiment of theinvention and changes may be incorporated therein without departing fromthe basic principles thereof. These basic principles form the subjectmatter of the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device comprising a unitary flexible band, said bandhaving two overlapping ends, a shank core in said band, adjusting meanscooperating with said shank core for pressing said band into marginalconformity with the shank, additional adjusting means for drawing saidband into marginal conformity with the sole and heel by pulling one endof said band until the band is contracted to appropriate size and shape,and means to demountably attach said band to said article of footwear.

2. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device comprising a unitary flexible band, said bandhaving two overlapping ends, a laterally adjustable shank core in saidband, adjustable screw means cooperating with said shank coreforpressing said band into marginal conformity with the shank, ratchetmeans for drawing said band into marginal conformity with the sole andheel by pulling one end of said band until the band is contracted toappropriate size and shape, and means for demountably attaching saidband to said article of footwear.

3. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device comprising a unitary flexible band having'twooverlapping ends, saidband being adapted to conform to the marginaloutlines of said sole, heel and shank, said band being relatively wideat the heel, tapering at the shankand being relatively narrow at the.sole, a laterally adjustable shank core positioned in said band, screwmeans cooperating with said shank core for pressing said band intomarginal conformity with the shank, ratchet means for drawing said bandinto marginal conformity with the sole and heel by pulling one end ofsaid band until the band is contracted to appropriate size and shape,and means for demountably attaching said band to said article offootwear.

4. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device .com-

prising a unitary, relatively flexible band having two overlapping ends,said band being adapted to conform to the marginal outlines of saidsole, heel and shank, said band being relatively wide at the heel,tapering at the shank and being relatively narrow at the sole, alaterally adjustable shank core, screw means for pressing the shankportions of said band against and in marginal conformity with said shankcore, a ratchet mechanism engaging one end of said band and drawing saidband into marginal conformity with the heel and sole, and nail means fordemountably attaching said band to said article of footwear.

5. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device comprising a unitary, relatively flexible bandhaving overlapping ends, said band being adapted to conform to themarginal outlines of said sole, heel and shank, said band beingrelatively wide at the heel, tapering at the shank and being relativelynarrow at the sole, a laterally adjustable shank core, screw means forpressing the shank portions of said band against and in marginalconformity with said shank core, a ratchet mechanism engaging one end ofsaid band and. drawing said band into marginal conformity with the heeland sole. and nail means for demountably a attaching said band to saidarticle of footwear, said shank core comprising a pair of longitudinalmembers which are transversely adjustable both with respect to eachother and with respect to the article of footwear.

6. A device for moulding the sole, heel and shank of an article offootwear, said device comprising a unitary flexible band havingoverlapping ends, said band being adapted to conform to the marginaloutlines of said sole, heel and shank, said band tapering at the shankfrom a relatively wide heel portion to a relatively narrow sole portion,a laterally adjustable shank core against which one of the ends of saidband is pressure-held, a ratchet mechanism engaging the other end ofsaid band and drawing said band into marginal conformity with the heeland sole, screw means for pressing the shank portions of said bandagainst and in marginal conformity with said shank core, and tackingmeans for demountably attaching said band to said article of footwear,said shank core comprising a pair of longitudinally extending memberswhich are transversely adjustable both with respect to each other andwith respect to the article of footwear.

WILLIAM H. DOHERTY.

